This blog is to exchange information and keep up to date on the latest information about PMAA. In the May Archive, is the place to post contact information for parents, please post so we know how to reach you.

Friday, May 30, 2008

Attorney General Complaint Information

This morning I called the Attorney General's Office and found out that to file a complaint, we need to call this group:Consumer Resource Center for the Attorney General's Office 206-464-6684 Press "0" when recording starts Open 10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.I called and spoke with the woman at the AG's office and she said to file a complaint on-line at this web site:https://fortress.wa.gov/atg/formhandler/ago/ComplaintForm.aspx

And I did just that. She said that each of us should file our own seperate complaints and that if we filed them today they would be input into the syste on Monday. Attachments can't be sent electronically, but we can deliver them to their office in the Bank of America center on 5th Street in Seattle.Here is the information I put in my complaint:

Pacific Modeling and Acting Academy came to Seattle in February, 2008. All of their documentation indicated that they were new to the Seattle area but had been in business in California. They offered acting and modeling classes that seemed well-developed and well prepared. They didn't have any complaints with the Better Business Bureau. They had four programs ranging price from $2900 to $9900 and the programs were either 6 months or 1 year. I signed my daughter up for a 1 year program for $7900 and was required to pay upfront. Classes were to start in March at the Seattle location, but we received an e-mail indicating that the building was not ready and as an interim facility, the Bellevue Sheraton would be used. The classes in March, April and May took place but we received an e-mail yesterday, May 30th at 5:17 p.m. that PMAA had filed for bankruptcy and was out of business. The owner of the business was disclosed as Stanley Robinson, and I searched for his name and discovered that he had basically pulled the same scam with a John Robert Powers franchise in Santa Clara, California. At that point, I called the Modeling Teacher who was also the Receptionist and Class coordinator and she was very upset and told me that she felt basically this had been a scam. Her name is Tatevik Aprikyan and she is very willing to help in any investigation and ultimately, help seek justice. Tatevik has the records of all of the familes that signed up, which program they signed up for and to provide any information about the organizational structure that she can. A rough estimate that Tatevik and I developed is that PMAA collected up front over $1.5M from parents and spent less than $200K, so the bankruptcy looks very suspicious to say the least. The AG's office will accept paper filings in person and I plan on bringing as much documentation as I can get my hands on, to them on Monday, June 2, 2008.

I have googled US Bankruptcy filings in California and in Washington and I can't find one under Pacific Talent or Pacific Modeling and Acting. I am not sure if they haven't filed yet or if they plan on filing or if they have a different corporate name. To be quite honest, I am not sure a lawsuit will do much but at least the AG's office has a chance of putting them in jail. It is important to get as much information as possible to prove this was a scam - fraud is both a criminal and civil matter, whereas bad management and bankruptcy don't have much legal recourse.

I filed my complaint with the AG last night...What I found was that PMAA opened business in our state March of 08. I gave them money on 2-3-08 before they were even filed as a business. I think there is some legal ground we can pursue, and Im not sure about bankruptcy, but I don't think he can escape this. He took our money and he ran.

We too contacted atty gen. office by email. Interested in class action lawsuit too. Stunned and shocked! Our girl Kelsea(10)is so sad and so young to experience this. We haven't even began to process this. Please keep us posted.

I just filed a complaint with AG and with the disputes department at my bank. I am in with any legal action. Linda if you would like some help please contact me via shashoni219@hotmail.com and put PMAA in the subject.

1. The complaint with the AG office, if the office investigates it, will only fine or bar the owner from conducting the business here in WA in the future. He will not be prosecuted or put to jail for running a scam, and we will not get the money back.

2. Publicity will be best (thru TV (KIRO, KOMO, etc), Radio will help put the pressure on the AG to investigate the case.

3. Class action lawsuit might be best, and we can go after the resources of the owner if he is running the scam.

4. Has anyone talked to Tatevik more about the owner operation to see if the US attorney can charge him with fraud, money laundering, etc, or the US postal service can charge him with mail fraud.

5. Can someone take a lead to set up a meeting so we all get get together and have a strategy session to get the money back.

I just wanted to let everyone know that I contacted the New Movin 92.5 promotions director, Annie. I gave her the blog site and told her about our situation and how I was pretty sure I had heard the ad for the casting call for April on their station. She is investigating through her channels. If you heard it from another source, you should contact the source. I plan to contact some of the other radio stations.

We just received an email from the Washington State Attorney General's office:

Your complaint submitted to our office regarding Pacific Modeling and Acting Academy has been assigned to me. I have contacted the business and requested a response to your complaint within 14 business days. A copy of your complaint was provided to the Business. I will contact you and inform you of the response. Normal complaint processing time is approximately 4-6 weeks due to the complexity and number of complaints our office receives, however, processing time may be longer during times when the volume of incoming complaints increases. Your patience is very much appreciated.

I justed received a letter from the United States Bankruptcy Court for Debtor Stanley Chester Robinson ADA JPR....Robert F. Kidd, attorney for debtor, located at 825 Washington St. 2nd FloorOakland, Ca 94607. tel 510-987-8300Meeting for creditors 12/17/08 at 2:30PM at the U.S trustee 1301 Clay Street. Room # 680N. Oakland Ca. 94612. I believe there is a class action lawsuit is file at Santa Clara, California. I will check to find out.Tiffany

I justed received a letter from the United States Bankruptcy Court for Debtor Stanley Chester Robinson ADA JPR....Robert F. Kidd, attorney for debtor, located at 825 Washington St. 2nd FloorOakland, Ca 94607. tel 510-987-8300Meeting for creditors 12/17/08 at 2:30PM at the U.S trustee 1301 Clay Street. Room # 680N. Oakland Ca. 94612. I believe there is a class action lawsuit is file at Santa Clara, California. I will check to find out.Tiffany

I justed received a letter from the United States Bankruptcy Court for Debtor Stanley Chester Robinson ADA JPR....Robert F. Kidd, attorney for debtor, located at 825 Washington St. 2nd FloorOakland, Ca 94607. tel 510-987-8300Meeting for creditors 12/17/08 at 2:30PM at the U.S trustee 1301 Clay Street. Room # 680N. Oakland Ca. 94612. I believe there is a class action lawsuit is file at Santa Clara, California. I will check to find out.Tiffany

Blog Archive

Contact Lists are Essential

As this case continues, and more information is trickling in from Tampa, Nashville, San Diego, and New Mexico, we need to collect a comprehensive list of who was scammed, where they are located and contact information, for law enforcement. Please add your information to the contact list and if you have a name, number or e-mail for anyone associated with PMAA or one of their sub-contractors, please include it in the PMAA Contacts section.